JacPot to leave Sharks and return to Bulls

Sharks forward Jacques Potgieter has agreed to leave the Sharks and play Super Rugby for his former team the Bulls.

Potgieter left the Bulls at the end of 2013 and played for the Waratahs where he won a Super Rugby title under coach Michael Cheika in 2014.

The flanker who can also play at lock returned to South Africa for the current season but his game time has been limited due to an ankle injury.

The Sharks have confirmed the departure of Jacques Potgieter to the the Bulls.

John Smit, The Sharks CEO said: “Injuries have unfortunately curtailed Jacques Super Rugby endeavours in 2016, which has prevented him from featuring for the Sharks. This move to Gauteng will provide greater opportunities for him and his fiancée, who are set to tie the knot shortly.

“We would like to take this opportunity to wish Jacques the very best for this new chapter he is pursuing.”

The Blue Bulls Company (BBC/Bulls) have also confirmed the move and in a statement which said that the 30-year old Springbok loose forward has signed a deal for the 2017 and 2018 Super Rugby season adding that Potgiter had already started training with the team.

According to the BBC’s High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, the flanker will be available for selection next month.

“Jacques is two weeks away from returning to the field and is doing his final rehabilitation. It is great to have him back in the Bulls family. He brings massive energy, physicality and go forward to the team and is versatile, so can cover loose trio and lock. It is also pleasing to know that top class players still see the Bulls as a preferred team to express their talents. We are building a team and Jacques is part of that plan,” Janse van Rensburg said.

Potgieter said that he is pleased to be back at Loftus Versfeld.

“I got my break into Super Rugby here at the Bulls and earned my Springbok caps as a Bulls player. That is something I will never forget and is keen to get back to that form and repay the faith the Bulls has put in me as a player. There is something special about the Bulls and I immediately felt at home. Now I can’t wait to go out there and play for the team again,” he said.

The BBC also confirmed that another loose forward, Nic de Jager, has signed an extension till the end of October 2017.

“We have also signed Jacobie Adriaanse till October 2018,” Janse van Rensburg said. “Jacobie will join us from August this year.”

Adriaanse played Super Rugby for the Lions and currently for the Southern Kings, following a stint overseas where he played Heineken Cup rugby for the Scarlets in Wales.

“Quality tight heads are in high demand and we are pretty pleased to get someone with the experience and quality of Jacobie to join us,” Janse van Rensburg said.